NEWARK — A Pittsgrove based fuel transportation company was sued along with a handful of gas stations, their parent company, and a fuel distributor for their alleged roles in selling aviation fuel to consumers who thought they were filling their cars with ordinary motor fuel, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs announced on Tuesday.

Lee Transport, located on Garden Road, was named in a lawsuit filed on behalf of the DCA and the Office of Weights and Measures alleging that six gas stations sold the aviation fuel, which contains lead, to consumers who thought they were buying unleaded gas during a three-day period in December.

Lee Transport is accused of transporting the aviation fuel to the gas stations, which are located in Mercer, Monmouth, Somerset and Union counties.

According to state officials, the gas stations received a total of nearly 65,000 gallons of 100 octane aviation gasoline, or “avgas,” from a fuel distributor between Dec. 6 and Dec. 7, 2012.

Avgas is used to power piston-engined aircraft. Unlike motor fuel, it contains tetraethyl lead, a toxic substance that can damage cars’ catalytic converters and oxygen sensors.

“We allege that these gas stations clearly knew, or should have known, they were selling aviation fuel that contains toxic lead, while advertising it as unleaded gasoline for motorists,” Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said.

“We will pursue restitution for any consumer, if it is demonstrated that this aviation fuel damaged their vehicles. Just as importantly, we are holding these gas stations and the distributors responsible for their alleged, unlawful deception and potential harm to the public.”

Between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, the gas stations allegedly advertised the avgas to consumers as unleaded regular, plus, or premium motor fuel. The state alleges that consumers unknowingly purchased the avgas, and faced a potential risk of significant problems with their vehicles.

Such conduct allegedly constitutes multiple violations of New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act, Motor Fuels Act, Weights and Measures Act, Motor Fuels Regulations, and Advertising Regulations, as well as the Federal Clean Air Act.

Additionally, the state alleges that Zephyr Oil, a Brooklyn-based fuel distributor, and Lee Transport violated the Consumer Fraud Act by selling and/or distributing leaded aviation fuel that they knew, or should have known, would be advertised and sold to consumers as unleaded motor fuel.

According to the state’s lawsuit, Zephyr Oil on Dec. 4 purchased approximately 73,000 gallons of avgas from a California-based company, which has not been named as a defendant.

At the time of that sale, the aviation fuel was stored at a fuel terminal in Bayonne, Hudson County. Zephyr Oil sold the fuel that same day to Pasmel Property Inc., owner of the six accused gas stations, at a significant discount compared to the price of premium motor fuel at the time.

Zephyr contracted with Lee Transport to deliver the avgas from the Bayonne terminal to the Pasmel stations.

The gas stations which then allegedly sold the aviation fuel to consumers were: Daninka, in North Plainfield; Express Fuel, in Trenton; Keyport Delta; Manasquan Lukoil; Lawrenceville Lukoil; and Scotch Plains Lukoil.

The state alleges that Zephyr, Lee Transport, and Pasmel all knew or should have known that the fuel being delivered to the Pasmel stations was aviation fuel. The bills of lading clearly noted that the fuel was “AVGAS – Aviation,” officials said.

In addition, the loading forms signed by Lee Transport identified the fuel as “AVGAS,” as did the weight tickets from the Bayonne fuel terminal.

It was not until the afternoon of Dec. 7 that an employee of the fuel terminal learned from a Lee Transport driver that Lee Transport was delivering the aviation fuel to gas stations, according to the state’s lawsuit.

After learning this information, the fuel terminal halted the remaining deliveries. As a result, the remaining 8,000 gallons of avgas purchased by Pasmel was not delivered to any of the gas stations.

According to the state, violations of the Consumer Fraud Act may result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 for a first violation and up to $20,000 for subsequent violations.

Violations of the Motor Fuels Act may result in civil penalties of up to $1,500 for a first violation and up to $3,000 for subsequent violations. A first violation of the Motor Fuels Act may result in a suspension of up to 30 days of the retail dealer’s license to sell motor fuels, and a subsequent offense can lead to a revocation of the license.

Violations of the Weights and Measures Act may result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 for the first violation, and up to $5,000 for subsequent violations.

The state urges any consumers who believe they purchased fuel from these six gas stations between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 to call the Division of Consumer Affairs at 800-242-5846, especially those who believe their vehicles may have been damaged as a result.